jambs heath



(No Model.)

J. HJEIATH.

TOOTH BRUSH.

No} 350,306. Patented Oct. 5, 1886.,

WITNESSES N. PUERS. Photwliflwgnphor, Washington. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HEATH, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

TOOTH-BRUSH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,306, dated October 5, 1886.

Application filed July 9, 1886. Serial No. 207,531. (No model.)

' in other'word's, having a twist to correspond To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs HEATH, of Rich mond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tooth-Brushes; apd I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as a will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in tooth-brushes, and more particularly to an improvement in rotary tooth-brushes.

The object is to provide a tooth brush of such construction that it may be operated vertically on the teeth, or in the direction of the length of the teeth, instead of at right angles thereto, as is usually done with the common form of brush. y

A further object is to provide a light, cheap, and convenient device for effectively cleaning the teeth.

W'ith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure '1 is a view in perspective of my improved toothbrush. Fig. 2isa detached view of the holderframe in open adjustment. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the operatingbutton or slide.

A represents the handle of the tooth-brush, preferably round in cross-section, and provided longitudinally with a spiral groove, a, winding two or three times around the handle. The handle A may be made of any desirable material, such as metal, ivory, celluloid, guttapercha, or bone, the latter being usually employed on account of its 'cheapness. The handle terminates at oneend in a brush-stem, 13, also round in cross-section, and provided with hair or bristles radiating from its periphery. At either end of the brush a pair of collars,b b, are located a short distance apart, with the journals 0 between them. The handle A is also provided with a pair of collarsone at either. endbetween which the button or slide 0 is confined. The slide 0 consists simply of a button or sleeve convenient-1y made of material like the handle; or it may be made of different material and provided on the interior with a lug, a, set diagonally therein, or,

with the direction of the groove a. The slide 0 is loosely mounted on the handle, having its lug d registering with the groove a, so that by the reciprocating motion of the slide a rotary motion is transmitted to the handle and brush.

The holder-frame, in which the brush rests, consists of a receptacle, D, the length of which corresponds approximately to the length of the brush-stem 'B, and having a U shape in transverse section. The ends of the recepta ole are partially closed by the segmental pieces E E, preferably formed integral therewith.

One of these pieces, E, is provided with aslot,

e, to form an exit for the water which drops from the brush. The U-shaped openings f in the end pieces form .bearings for the journals 0 of the brush-stem. When the brush-stem B is placed inposition in the receptacle, the

skeleton guard F is shut over the receptacle, thus securing the brush in place.-

The guard F may be constructed in various ways, although the construction shown in the drawings is very simple.

It consists of the slightly-curved plate G, rigidly secured to the end pieces, H, and adapted to overlap the adjacent edge of the receptacle when in closed adjustment. The guard F is hinged along one side to the receptacle D, and is provided on its free edge with a flange or handle, I, which comes in contact with the flange or handle J when the parts are in closed adjustment. The holder-frame is preferably made of metal or gutta-percha. To use the brush in practice, it is held in one hand by. the handles I and J in contact with the teeth, while the other hand is engaged in sliding the button-'0 back and forth, which motion, when only moderate, imparts to the 0 V brush a rapid whirl. By means of the motion described the teeth are operated upon vertically, thus effectually cleaning their edges as well as their crowns and sides. It is held as a scientific fact that this is the only true man- 9 5 nor of cleansing teeth without injuring them.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the construction of the holderframe, and that other parts described might be slightly changed in form and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myself to the particular construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A rotary tooth brush consisting of a holder-frame, a skeleton guard hinged thereto, the said parts adapted to hold and furnish bearings for a revoluble brush, a handle operating with the said brush and provided with a spiral guide, a slide adapted to operate with the said guide by a rectilinear reciprocating motion, whereby a whirling motion is imparted to the brush, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rotary tooth-brush, the combination, with a receptacle and a skeleton guard hinged thereto, each provided. with handles, of a revoluble brush journaled in the receptacle, and a handle for operating the brush, substantially as set forth.

3. In a rotary brush, the combination, with an elongated receptacle provided at either end with a notch forming bearings for a revoluble brush, and on one side with guard adapted to swing over the receptacle, holding the brush on its bearings, of a handle provided with a spiral guide and a slide thereon loosely mounted and adapted to operate longitudinally with the guide in imparting motion to the brush, substantially as set forth.

4. In a rotary tooth-brush, the combination, with a brush suitably journaled in an openfaced holder-frame, of a handle rigidly secured to an end of the brush, and provided with a spiral groove extending longitudinally therein, and a slide provided with a'lug adapted to register with the groove andby its motion operate the brush, substantially as set forth;

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribo ing witnesses.

JAMES HEATH.

Witnesses:-

B. M. QUARLES, S. M. G. FISHER. 

